Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-04
looking up at his friend coniically
"you ought 10 break my neck"
20 VVbv2v aid Mr.. Benton.

4
"you ought to break my neck.
"why 2" said Mr.. Benton.
"Simply because l ON not 70 oe
trusted alone. / threw away three DOL
lars Of that money this morning, fou
see.v he continued more earnestly, u
never had an experience OF this sort be-
fore. and keep forgetting"
"Of course" said Benton sympatneu-
cally. "Wo can't expect leopard 10
change his spots In an instant.
"Herc." continued Brown, taking out
his purse, "you take charge OF the rest
Of this" :.
"No, I'll be hanged if 1 do replied
Benton. "You forget our agreement IN
San Francisco, after that unlncky stock
deal into which / got YOU q,
land in which you lost fifty thousand
to my fve," interrupted Brown.
"You forget our agreement, con-
tinued Benton. without needing this re-
mark, "that we were to pool our re-
sources, and to share equally gains and
losses, from two-bit piece to hundred
thousand dollars.
"a hundred thousand dollars" re-
peated Brown, meditstively.
"That is nothing" said Benton, L
have made as much as that before now. "
"In stocks, yes" said Brown, but
they have no stocks here"
"No." said Benton, "but they have
something hundred times better they
have a magnificent climate, and harbor,
and everything to make big city. And
you mark my word, there is going to be
one Of the biggest booms right here that
the world has ever seen. Kansas City
won't be a circumstance to it. Why,
the climate alone"
"Oh, come down interrupted Brown
irreverently.
Benton laughed and said Seriously,
Frank, if we only can manage to get hold
OF some land our fortune is made. L
am as sure of that as that at present we
are dead broke. If that wealthy father
Of yours back in the respectable village
of Philadelphia only knew what a
glorious chance there was to mako a mil
lion or so right here" and Mr.. Benton
sighed.
well, he won't know through me, "
replied Brown. eff the worst comes |
can always drive team, but l won't
ask him for help" ..
81 think you are wrong, old man,
said Benton. "Not on account Of the
money, but on general principles. How
ever, we will make our stake just the
same. And now about lunch ; L am
/ starved"
81 think I ought TO he made to eat
the lavender" said Brown, looking rue
fully at his purchase, az he disclosed the
contents of the bundle to his friend.
"There, how is that for three-dollaI
investment?"
"But what is it?" said Benton,
picking up one of the lavender sticks
aud looking at it suspiciousiy. "Dyna-
mite? Phiz'z'z'ti For the old woman ?"
with an expressive reference to the re-
gion occupied by the landlady.
"No, you old Anarchist" replied
Brown. Then in fine lady's voice he
said, "'Tis sweet lavender. Placed in
your bureau drawer will give pleasing
odor to your linen. That's right" he
continued in his own voice, laugh ! |
was going to give you one. l shant
now"
"Did they throw q bureau in ?" said
Benton "otherwise it is not much use
to us"
"Use !" said Brown, scorniully /;
"think of a man who has to go without
his breakfast buying three dollars worth
of lavender !"
Don't make me laugh any more, "
said Benton, sit is weakening, and we
can't afford it. Tell me, how did you
come to buy those things ?"
Whereupon Mr.. Brown narrated the
story of his purchase.
"Young," SAID Benton at its conclu-
sion, "and pretty"
81 did not say so, interposed Brown.
cit was not necessary, replied his
friend. 1--WE must get acquainted with
her"
"Why?" said Brown, in not alto
gether pleased surprise.
because she may have friends among
the natives here, who have land that We
can handle for them. Land, my dear
boy, land, that is what we want You
don't seem to fancy the idea" continued
benton, as brown renamed silent ~ out
we cannot afford to be romantic Just
now. 1t is absolutely necessary TO use
every chance. You have made a three
dollar investment, and don't propose to
throw it away. 1 am supersttious in
money matters, you know, and have a
fancy that this generous act of yours may
bring us luck. Three dollars worth Of
bread on the waters. as it were. ! shall
make point Of getting acquainted with
your friend, and L should like to have
you stand in with me. If you would
rather not, why, OF course"
But Mr.. Brown said he would "stand
in, only, be it understood, for the sole
purpose of keeping Mr.. Benton's bust
ness proclivities within decent bounds.